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Shot Angles - The angle at which you choose to view your subject can affect the relationship your audience has with your subject and the content. Shot angles can be both horizontal and vertical.
Horizontal Shot Angles
Horizontal Shot Angles
Frontal - Direct to audience, focused, confrontational, can be intense and strong.
3/4 Front - Similar to most everyday human interactions. Creates a relaxed feeling, easy to access visually. Faces are still clear, but not confrontational. The standard for most interviews.
Profile / Side - Profile shots allow the audience to observe the subject, but without engaging with them. I find the perspective tends to give the feeling of observing their thought process or state of mind. Practically it can flatten the scene and emphasise the horizontal space.
3/4 Rear - Begins to give the audience the perspective of the subject. Engages the audience in the activity. Adds to the depth of the space.
Rear / Back Angle - These shots engage the audience in the activity of the subject. You see their perspective, without seeing through their eyes (POV shot). It can also give the subject an air of mystery.
Vertical Shot Angles
Vertical Shot Angles
ERL Eye Ranking Level / Eye Level places the camera at the eye level of the subject. In a literal sense this allows the view to be ‘on their level’ and the psychological effect of this is for the view to feel allied with the subject, part of their current experience. It the practical choice for most conversations, observations of practical action and interviews. See the examples below, the camera is eye level with all of the subjects.
High Angle shots display the subject from above looking down. Places the audience's eye above the subject, reducing the status or size of the subject in relation to the audience. Can create the illusion of vulnerability, softness, lower status, reduced size, being watched, etc.
Looking directly down is referred to as Birds Eye View. A more abstract view, it can give a wider, object perspective or can emphasise patterns, shapes or movement.
Low Angle shots display the subject from below looking up. Places the audience's eye (camera) beneath the subject, increasing the power, status or size of the subject over the audience. Creates the illusion of strength, power or size.
Looking directly up is referred to as Worm's Eye View and is used to make the viewer feel particularly small, vulnerable, or in awe of the subject or environment.
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